Clay beads, Sausage Plait and Easter egg hunting

I've dabbled with my clay recently in an attempt to make some slightly unique clay beads, the initial results are pleasing but still very basic.  I think I will have to experiment more with techniques, colour mixing and more crucially, pressure on cutting utensil as I cut through the clay because I'm finding it's distorting the pattern as I push down.  Any tips on how to improve on this aspect.

I also decided to follow a recipe by the Hairy Bikers, yes, I like a Hairy Biker (or two in this instance) when they come up with good recipe suggestions.  Daughter of 12 does not like sausages!!! Why, I don't know because she eats sausage rolls.  Regardless, having shown and discussed recipe with daughter of 12 it was decided that I should cook the Sausage Plait for dinner.  I went off thinking it would be really easy to get some sausage meat but tis was proving more difficult that expected.  Eventually decided to buy some sausages, remove the skins and use the meat inside.  Daughter of 12 saw me buy sausages, remove skins, and mix sausage meat with onions, herbs and spices.  I then needed to attempt the puff pastry plaiting technique as outlined in the cookbook.  Well easier said than done, quite frankly it's easier to plait daughter of 12's hair both now and when she was 2 years old.  I achieved a lopsided plait with the pastry and into the doven it went.  This I served witha lovely side salad and surprise, surprise, daughter of 12 who does not eat sausages decided she liked it.  Now I ask you..... is there any logic in that?

Today was the day that daughter of 12 invited 5 of her friends around for an Easter egg hunt and craft activity.  I must admit the event went off relatively painlessly though I will state that they are categorically useless at Easter egg hunting.  I've subsequently found a lot more in the garden, thank goodness before large 4 legged friend could reap the rewards.  The girls then engaged in decorating polystyrene eggs, which had already been prepainted with sequins and seed beads.  A little bit fiddly but it kept them entertained while they gossiped around the table.  While this was going on I escaped upstairs and read my Book Club book which is beginning to get quite interesting.

Son of 15 has just returned from doing his DT practical, in preparation for GCSE which are looming ever closer.  I must admit, to be fair on him, he is trying to come to terms with studying and I can often hear the chair scraping across the wooden floor as he continues to sit at his desk and do some revision.  Still, there's no end in sight for the near future.  He still has the pleasure of A-levels and additional studies after that so it's a hard learning curve and he's not alone.

Right, 4 legged friend has already been for a walk though we lost the ball in the stream today and tail was decidedly down as we returned home.  She can never understand when we lose a ball where it could possibly have gone to.  I don't feel like cooking tonight so think it will be pizza (and not home-made) though I do enjoy a home-made pizza). 

More later
Love jayjay

mumcando: Wire wrapping a marble, hanging baskets and Tom Ya...

mumcando: Wire wrapping a marble, hanging baskets and Tom Ya...: "Well the weekend has been and gone and we can claim to have had another 2 BBQs. Not bad for the middle of April - long may it last tho..."

Wire wrapping a marble, hanging baskets and Tom Yam Gai

Well the weekend has been and gone and we can claim to have had another 2 BBQs.  Not bad for the middle of April - long may it last though it's still far too chilly to be outside and eating alfresco.  Decided to put myself up to a challenge this weekend and try some bead wire wrapping.  I bravely ventured into the attic and amongst the pure chaos of forgotten belongings I source some long lost marbles from son of 15 years earlier childhood days.  Equipped with marble, a variety of pliers, wire and a book that promises to teach me the technique I begin.  After numerous attempts and a lot of broken, crumpled and useless wire that gets discarded I finally manage to get a marble wrapped in wire so that you can still see what is on the inside and it doesn't look too much of a mess.  Decide to challenge myself to a second attempt and I'm pleased to say I found success again.  I later found a much simpler technique on Youtube.  Still, at least I can say I can do it the hard way and to quote the book I used "The most difficult undrilled objects to wrap and smooth and round" - that sounds distinctly like a marble .... doesn't it!?

Daughter of 12 has been nagging me to get a hanging basket as she wants some pretty flowers outside the house.  I finally relent and we visit our local garden centre of Saturday and end up purchasing not one, but two hanging baskets, the moss lining, the suitable compost and a variety of hanging/trailing flowers.  I must say that having got down and dirty while making them up the end result was quite pleasing.  Just hope we have some decent weather to let the flowers flourish and I still need to fathom out the best way to keep them watered.  They are rather high up!!!! I wonderr why?

As Saturday draws to a close I suddenly realise that I am on Sunday school duty the next day.  Mad panic as I quickly identify what the chosen activity is, decide against it and find another one that I think is far more fun and in keeping with Palm Sunday then realise that I need split pins.  This results in a mad dash to the large craft shop in the neighbouring town where I arrive puffing and panting with what I think is 5 minutes to spare (it's 4.55pm) only to be told that they close at 6.00pm.  I could have finished my cup of tea that I left on the side of the kitchen table after all!!!

Sunday school went without a hitch and needless to say the children loved their large scale donkeys with moveable legs, head and tail.  Thank you split pins.

Tom Yam Gai was then the flavour of the day.  Armed with one of my favourite chefs... Nigel Slater I then decided to make one of his perfect soup recipes.  Quick run through of all the ingredients and I was ticking boxes all the way through only to realise that I didn't have any limes.  Quick dash to the local shop proved fruitless and Tom Yam Gai needs lime juice (preferably fresh) so decided to improvise and make a variation on the above incorporating noodles (the children love chicken noodle soup) and using fresh ginger as well.  Well judging by the empty bowls and the predictable return of son of 15 years 1 hour later for more (I don't know where he puts it all) it must have been a hit.

Right nearly time for a shower and for the the 2 furry friends to have their dustbaths .. that is the chinchillas.  Next project, challenge is to make some polymer beads using some clay in a variety of colours and getting ready for daughter of 12's easter egg hunt party on Thursday. 

More to follow
love jayjay

mumcando: Blue Charm Bracelet, Dog Washing and .... haircut

mumcando: Blue Charm Bracelet, Dog Washing and .... haircut: "Well really getting the hang of making these charm bracelets now and this time I decided to make the bracelet using jump rings only (having ..."

Blue Charm Bracelet, Dog Washing and .... haircut

Well really getting the hang of making these charm bracelets now and this time I decided to make the bracelet using jump rings only (having noticed this technique on a well known bidding website).  Really quite pleased with the outcome - see picture - what do you think!?  I notice though that daughter of 12 in my recent absence has purchased even more beads and has obviously decided we need to make an orange charn bracelet (or 2).  So that is obviously going to be one of my weekend projects along with finishing off the knitted bracelet that I am currently doing too.

Decided larger of our 4 legged friends in the house (boxer dog) needed a bath today as she had spent too much time in the smelly creek recently.  And I can say, with a huge smile on my face that I can claim SUCCESS!  For the first time ever I have come away from the bathtime venture almost as dry as when I started.  Either my four legged friend has resigned herself to being subjected to this humiliation in the bathtub or else, dare I say it, I'm becoming an expert.  Can that be possible?

Along with making more charm bracelets this weekend daughter of 12 has left me with a conundrum.  She wants her haircut and keeps on asking me what I think and how should she have her hair cut.  I've told her 'It's got to be her decision' otherwise I know I'll be held responsible but I know I'm going to have to give some advice.  HELP!! 

It's also hanging basket weekend (photos hopefully to follow) as now freshly potted blueberries look almost good enough to eat and no... they are not bearing fruit yet.  But anyway, daughter of 12 has decided that we need to spruce up our front and a hanging basket (or 2) is required.  A visit to the local garden centre is imminent.

Right, I think I might just indulge in a little Book Club reading for tonight and leave bracelets and everything else for tomorrow.

More later
Love jayjay

Macaroons

Well the reason for the first time flop with the macaroons/macarons - there seems to be a variation in the spelling has now been identified.  The recipe I initially followed missed out an important step and thus resulted in very flat very crumbled macarons.  I really think that this blunder warrants a letter of complaint to the publisher/editor of the cookbook so that it can be rectified.  Anyway, problem has now been resolved thanks to The Mail on Sunday who published a fail proof recipe for macaroons last week and I must say (even if I say so myself) they turned out a treat.  The only downside was.... wait for it.... there wasn't enough.  They seriously just melted in your mouth.  A complete sugar rush and pure indulgence (a bit like eating candyfloss I suppose) but a sweet fancy that must be tried.  I've aslo discovered the joys of food colouring paste which far surpasses the food colouring bottles and would recommend that to anyone wanting to practise with the colouring of food.

Anyway, enough food indulgence.  I notice daughter of 12 has frequented our local bead shop again and neatly lined up on my beading table is a lovely array of new beads - obviously a hint for a new charm bracelet.  Should I pretend I haven't seen them.....

More later
Love jayjay

Key Lime Pie, Dining Room Table and Flower Necklace

Well the desserts at the BBQ on Sunday went down a real treat.  The Key Lime Pie was fabulous (even if I say so myself), especially with the double chocolate chip cookie base - lime and chocolate is so delicious.  Anyway, weekend out of the way and my project for yesterday/today was to tidy the dining room table.  Just oh so could not see what the table looked like it was so piled high with stuff.  So armed with new storage boxes with an aim to categorising things into relevant categories I slowly tidied everything away.  Knitting/sewing/cross-stitch etc - box 1....  Paper craft and decoupact - box 2 ..... Jewellery beads and findings - box 3 and 4 (have I really accumulated so much beading stuff already).... Work stuff and paperwork .... box 5.  Now at least I can see the dining room table and everything is sorted.  How long will it last!!!

Tried my first necklace attempt today having sorted out all the beads.  Followed a basic instruction leaflet curtesy of a big craft outlet and I am really pleased with the result.  Really quite easy to do provided you have the right tools and the right beads/findings.  Daughter of 12 has now seen the necklace and has requested that I make one for her too.  I think she can have a purple one - there can't be two of us wearing the same thing in the house at any one moment in time!!

Next project is Jamaican Jerk chicken for dinner.  My gosh, there are an awful lot of spices and ingredients that go in to marinating this dish.  The chicken has been marinating for just over 2 hours now and will hopefully soon be able to reap the rewards when we get it on the BBQ.  Having a lovely cold rice salad to go with it.  Yum Yum.

Anyway, had better get this chicken to the BBQer or else it will be tomorrow before we eat it.  Son of 15 is watching Man U and Chelsea on the telly.  As huge Arsenal supporters we have just got to love to hate Man
U so...... come on Chelsea!!! 

Love jayjay